Shick, Vlahovic & Ekitike
With Wood on the books we are a solid experienced relegation dog-fighter of a striker. A great signing to help us in our current predicament. So long as he stays fit and Wilson gets back to fitness we have two genuine goal threats in the squad now.
Shick is arguably up the with Vlahovic as the hottest striking target in europe right now. An amazing player 19 goals in 17 games this season (or something similarly amazing). A great striker but I really don't think that he will come to the dog fight of survival.
Vlahovic - a player who styles himself of Zlatan has absolutely zero interest in coming to Newcastle in Jan. The guy will go to a CL club in summer. A Real Madrid etc. Would love to see him in toon but I just don't see it as likely.
Young Ekitike has all the attributes to become a worldie by all accounts from all the scouts and football people who have watched him since he exploded onto the scene in August.
Of the 3:
Shick is a ready made, off the shelf 25 yr old
- someone to come in to a team already producing. With Wood & Wilson senior pros it would mean we have 3 seniors for 1 position if we continue to play with a lone striker however Howe does prefer to play with 2 up top. If it is the case then we are very light up top. Gayle will leave later in the window IF we get quality replacements through the door.
Vlahovic is light years ahead of other 22 yr olds - he is destined for the very top, sadly we are too late in our progress to be in the conversation realistically for a player of his calibre and arrogance.
Ekitike looks like the ideal signing for us in Jan. Even if we pay big big money, we blew 40m of N'JOLOKante (Joelinton), Ekitike is touted at around 35m Euro plus add-ons. With Wood in and Wilson back in a few weeks. The brief to this young lad would be - no stress, no pressure, just go out and play your football, have fun and see what happens.
In a shocker of a relegation battle it's a genuine opportunity for this young lad to come in and surprise everyone.
Here's hoping Ekitike & Diego Carlos are both on the plane today from their respective cities.
Have a Geordie belta of a day bonnie lads and lasses !
